D.C. native L.J. Hoes speaks on Naval Yard shooting

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Astros right fielder L.J. Hoes, a Washington D.C. native, was in the process of returning a text to his mother Monday morning when he learned of the shooting that claimed the lives of 12 people at the Washington Naval Yard.

“It’s just crazy what’s been going on,” Hoes said. “My mom works for the government, and where she works is not too far from the Naval Yard.”

Hoes’ mom, Gale, works in administration for the Department of Education. The Naval Yard tragedy reminded the 23-year-old Hoes of the helpless feeling he sensed during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

“It’s tough,” Hoes said. “You don’t want to see an area where you come from and somewhere where you grew up, you don’t want to see it tortured. With what went on in Boston this year and then you see this, it’s crazy.”

Hoes woke up at around 9 a.m. He was in the process of answering a question from his mother via text when he turned on his television. He was channel surfing while planning to watch ESPN when he saw a CNN report on the Naval Yard shooting.

“It’s just a senseless act,” he said. “You never wish it upon anyone. Sometimes things like that wake you up and make you appreciate the things that you have.”

Hoes was relieved to learn that his mother was safe.

“You want to be there,” he said. “In 2001 when Sept. 11 happened and a plane flew into the Pentagon it was kind of like a shock. You never want to experience anything like that. When you hear your family is OK, it’s kind of a big relief.

“But then you also think about the people who were affected by this tragedy. You feel sorry for these people because their loved ones aren’t coming back.”